Baku Initiative Group slams France for forced displacement of New Caledonians

The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) has accused France of continuing to colonise New Caledonia, forcing the indigenous Kanak population into displacement.

“Despite the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital technologies worldwide, France continues its policy of exploiting its colonial territories and maintaining control over the local population through legal and coercive mechanisms, forcing indigenous peoples to leave their ancestral lands,” the Group said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The statement notes that the results of the 2019 and 2025 censuses of the indigenous Kanak population in New Caledonia clearly illustrate a deepening demographic crisis. The permanent population decreased from 271,407 in 2019 to 264,596 in 2025. Over six years, the population fell by 6,811 people, corresponding to a demographic decline of about 2.5%. On average, more than 1,200 people leave New Caledonia each year — the first such decrease in the past 75 years.

BIG emphasised that alongside population outflow, the aging of society is accelerating, and the proportion of children and youth is shrinking, further worsening the demographic situation.

The message says the key causes of mass migration are France’s deliberate socio-economic restraint of the region, limited access to education and employment, worsening living conditions, problems in healthcare and public services, the absence of a fair judicial system, and harsh and discriminatory actions by law enforcement acting under the directives of the metropolis.

The statement also notes that France’s policy of encouraging the departure of Kanak youth, particularly the politically and economically active segment of the population, is aimed at weakening local independence movements.

“At the same time, steps are being taken to reduce the proportion of the indigenous population while increasing the number of migrants from the metropolis and other countries, which in the long term undermines independence demands,” the statement reads.

BIG added that the outflow of young and qualified personnel slows the region’s economic development and increases its financial and resource dependence on France, while French companies, particularly in the nickel sector, compensate for the labor shortage with migrant workers.

The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was established with the purpose of supporting the global fight against colonialism and neocolonialism. The Group’s primary objective is advocating for decolonisation, human rights, and related issues in international scale. It has established cooperation ties with representatives from more than 20 countries and overseas territories, as well as partnerships with over 25 organizations and institutions.  

By Khagan Isayev